Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13
THE BALLET.
ITS rAILURgs AND SUCCESSES on THE
AMERICAN STAGE.
Gradual Decline Of Active 0pposition-Fan-
ny Elssler-0ther Famous
Dancers.
fBaltlmore Americana


baltimore Americana
When, over sixty years ago, the ope-
ratio ball was first produced in the
United States il met with bitter opposi-
ton. But, in spite of all that could be
said against it, it still lives, and it is more
popular now than ever.
The ballet had its birth in Italy. 1t
was produced simultaneously with the
operate compositions of Rossini, Verdi,
aud Bellini, and no rendition OF these
great works OF grand opera is considered
perfect without frst-class ballet troupe.
The great opponents of the terpsichorean
art, such as Iaglioni, Cerito, Carlotta
Grlsi, Rosetta, or Lucille GRAIN, never
came to America. These dancers found
ed a school which, fortunately, has not
been forgotten by old stagers.
The persons who first introduced bal
let-dancing in this country were LabOt-
tlere and Preville at the Park Theatre,
New York, in the year 1902. They, with
a small company, produced series OF
ballets, but they met with much disfayor,
as the clergy and press denounced them.
In 1912 Labottiere, assisted by Mr.. and
Mrs Whcatley, William Jones, Miss
Ryckman, Miss Delamater, aud few
others, again gave ballet entertainments,
but they did not prove profitable owing
to their unpopularity, and the ballet was
taken of. On September B, 1927, the
first ballet on an extensive scale, and
what might lee called really the first real
success in that line, was at the Park,
under the direction Of VI. Lablsse it
was called "The Caliph of Bagdad.
The music was selected from Rossini,
and great attention had been paid to its
detail, the scenery and effects, which
caused the public TO approve and sustain
it. The principal artists were NJ. Achiile.
Mr. Durang, VI. Angriseni, VI. Scho-
motif. Miles. Celeste, Hortence, Nine.
Achilles. and NJ Passage. About
this time, or little after, came the
great prima donna Signorina Maria
Garcia, with her father and brother.
They appeared in Italian opera. Garcia
was afterwards known as Nine. Mala-
bran. She was a magnet who attracted
all eyes and won all hearts. The Garcia
family appeared mt the Park Theatre,
New York, aud with them was Il ballet
consisting OF VI. and Nine. Barbierre,
u. and Nine. Hinton When they first
appeared the press denounced them in
unmcasurcd terms. Celeste Keplar
then very youug) came again with this
troupe. She WIS Afterwards known rs
Nine. Celeste. She married Tom John
son, of this city, but it was very I'M
fortunate match. She left dancing and
became the greatest pantomimist that
ever adorned the stage.
THE WONDERFUL EAvEL BALLET.
In 1881 the celebrated Ravel family
appeared at the Park Theatre. New York.
1t WIS wonderful troupe, composed of
dancers, Pymnasts, rope-dancers, and
piutomimists, and at once bounded INTO
popularity. Their ballet master was
Paul Bullicnt. The company consisted
of Nine. Ravel, Nile Emile, Gabriel,
Felix, Antoine, and Jerome kavel also
ala Petite Amour The success of
tins party was great, and they paid re-
ilUAtu NANlA1 ~ 'lAo NOuAAAN III ONNA
thirty years One after the other has
died, but one remains. and be is at pres
ent with the hiraliys Company, acting
as stage manager.
Mime. Augusta, beautiful woman and
an elegant dancer, next came from
France Her style was neat and grace
iul. but she did not excel in tours dc
farce. but in agility and lighiness she
had few equals. Augusta first appeared
in tine ballet entitled La Gioelle, and il
was pronounced success but her
Growing triumph was her Zoloe IN An
hers ballet ouen oi la Bayadere. In
TINS she had the opportunity for display
and achieved a great reputation. and the
ballet was performed for nearly two hun
bred consecutive nights. Then came
the peerless plaDii with Hazard as her
PREMIER, who as a dancer was brilliant,
and as anactress aud pantomimist was I'M
rivalled. Her acting in the mad scene
IN La Giselle was equal to the best efforts
Of the elder Booth in depicting the same
malady
Then came Nine. Lacount, large and
masculine person, but she did not create
a Juror and soon subsidized. Miss Clioc-
ca. a blonde Italian dancer, appeared,
hat soon passed ont of sight. " The
Gale Sisters were very fine dancersand
enjoyed a reputation second to none in
their line. Hannah, Cecilia, Ruth. and
Adeona were daughters Of William Gale,
the first man who played Mazeppa in the
United States. In September. 1861,
while in their dressing room in the Con-
tiuental Theatre, Philadelphia, one Of
the girls dresses took fire. 1t went
from one to the other, and all
were severely burned. Not only were
the Gale sisters burned, but the fire
communicated to several others, aud in
the course of few days nine of their
persisted from their injuries.
Mrs. Wheatley, of the Park Theatre,
New York, had two lovely daughters
who used to dance between the acts,
1912. julia developed into an ex-
ccllent opera-singer, and Emma became
one of the brdiniest actresses of her day,
but Just as she had reached the sum
nit OF her professional career she
welded and left the stage. She
afterwards reappeared to recupe-
rate her husbands fortune. Mrs.
Wheatley, from a dancer, became n
great actress, for she was an accom-
plished personator OF line OF comic,
or old women, rich or poor,
refined or vulgar, indeed of every
grade. She was unrivaled on the stage.
Fanny kemble pronounced her the
finest "Durse she had ever met. Mrs.
Wheatley, becoming Independent in her
resources, with her daughters hand
somely settled III marriage, bid farewell
to the stage she had graced, aud in the
sanctuary OF domestic life devoted her
tins TO the service Of her daughters and
grandchildren. and in the society OF a
wide circle OF deserving and distinguish
ed friends she ended her life.
TIE ELssLRR CRAZE.
In 1910 Fanny Elssler came to this
country. She was managed by Cheyalier
Wlkof, an American. Elssler created
q Juror Her progress was series of
from one end of the country to
the other. Wikoif was regarded as an
manager, and was said to have
carried the newspapers in one hand and
the managers in the other, and be-
tween the two he squeezed the public.